Labeling machinery



Nov. 10, 1931. w. MOLINS ET AL 1,830,882

' LABELING MACHINERY Filed Nov. 8, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l o FIIIHIIIHHIIHFL Nov. 10, 1931.

W. E. MOLINS ET AL LABELING MACHINERY Filed Nov 8. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 10, 1931 l l l V I I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALTER. EVERETT MoLINs AunJoHN WALKER crinmvrnns, or tonnolm mrennnp i Y' I V LnB ELING MACHINERY v V 7 Application filed November s, 1a29, Serial n acasoo na in Great Britain November 28, 1 92s.

This invention is for improvements in 01 mounted on an endless conveyor 4 and arrelating to machinery for applyinglabelsto ranged to-automatic-ally move the box along packages, and more particularly to a machine the bed 5 of themachine' and into engageadapted to fold a label of paper about a ment withaweb ofpaper 6. The paper web 5 box or like container,-for example, a pack- 6 iS-fed from a reel so asto pass through age of tobacco so as'to'completely envelop the a printing mechanism 8 over a heater 9 arsame around four sides thereof, leaving two ranged to dry the ink, andaround a series of sides of the package unprotecte guide rollers 10. The paper then passes The present invention consists of a machine through a gumming unit 11 which applies for applying labels to packages wherein a gum on the non-printed side of theylabel in Loo series of spaced-packages are arranged to be a series of lines forexample, three. j v i 7 fed in'rapid succession'into engagement with The gumming unit is also constructed so a web of material arranged to be severed as to leave an ungummedportion at predeinto strips as the packages meet the same, termined points upon the web in order to 5 means arranged to provide the said material permit the web to be severed at these points 155 with adhesive and means 'a-rrang'ed-to-move without the cutters becoming coated 'with a 'package together with a strip of material gum. r through mechanism operable to wrap the The web of paper then passes through cutmaterial around the packageand secure the ting mechanism 12 which 1s arranged to sever two ends of the same to the package. the paper as the box meets the-web, where- The invention will be more particularly after-the box and the web arecarried bedescribed with reference tothe accompanying neath a plate 13 which is adapted to fold drawings, in which 1 the strip about the box so that one-end of the Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of av mastrip protrudes from 'the rear end o'f'the 5 chine constructed according to this invenbox in the manner shown inFigQQ.

tion.

Gum is then applied to the end of-the label Figs. 2, 3 and 4 show successive stages of and the bottom'of the box by means of an one method of automatically folding a label oscillating roller 13w which receives gum around a box. from a roller 14 rotating in a gum bath (see Figs. 5 and 6 show similar diagrams of Fig. 3) or if necessary, the gum may be ap- 80 a second'metho'd of automatically folding plied to the free end of the label.

the label about a box. The box is then raised intofa. stacker 15 Fig. 7 shows a third method of folding a in the manner shown in'Figs. 2 and 3, and label around a box. the free endof the strip is folded downward- Figure 8 is a. diagrammatic illustration of ly so as to leave a portion protruding from a gum supplying device applicable to the the underside of the box, whereupon the next arrangement shown in Figure 5 of the drawoncoming box folds the protruding strip on ings. I i to the underside of the box so thatthe strip Figure 9 shows a mechanical movement apcompletely enevelops the same (see Fig.4)

plicable to the arrangement disclosed in In the modified form of folding shown in Fi 7, and I 7 Figs. 5 and 6, the box is arranged to meet Figure 10 illustrates asheet feeding mechathelabel-at about mid-way of its length so nism for carrying out the'labeling method that the label is formed into a shape with described herein, in the event that separate two over hanging portions at the rear of the sheets rather than a continuous web of labelpackage as shown in Fig. 5. When the packiing material issupplied. age reaches. the verticalstacker the bottom Referring to Fig. 1, a series ofboxesfl are overlapping flap is folded upwardly by an arranged in a vertical magazine 2 in such'a oscillating tucker 16, which may, necesmanner that the lowermost box is removed isary, apply gum to the flap, and the top flap is 60 from the magazine by a pusher. piece 3 folded down over the lower one as'the pacle loo age is pushed upwardly into the stacker 15.

One arrangement by means of which gum may be supplied to the tucker 16 is shown in Figure 8 of the drawings. It will be observed from this figure that a lever 16d carrying a gum applying roller 16a is oscillated by means of a cam 166 and the two cams shown in this figure are rotated in timed re; lation so that gum is supplied to the tucker 16 while it occupies a lower position away from the ackage. I

In anot er way of carrying the invention into effect, the package is arranged to meet the web of material immediately. after the latter commences to pass through the slot in the bed of the machine, and the long overhanging strip which is produced, is folded by rotating the package through a semi-circle during which motion the long flap is folded around the box. An apparatus for this purpose is shown in Fig. 7 and on reference to that figure it will be seen that after the folding operation the package is moved into a compartment 17 formed in a rotary member 18, and when the package has reached the position shown in Fig. 7 the member 18 is rotated through a semi-circle, during which movement theover hanging fiap is bent down by a plate 19. The member 18 may be rotated intermittently by any of the various types of mechanical movements commonly used for such a purpose. One such arrangement is illustrated in Figure 9 of the draw ings in which the shaft 18h on which the member 18 is mounted carries a gear 18a which is in turn driven by a gear 186. The latter gear is formed integrally with or is secured to a slotted disc'180. A. second disc l8e carries a roller 18d which is arranged to engage in the slots formed in the plate 180 so that on each rotation of the disc 186 the slotted disc 180 will be rotated through approximately 60. The disc 186 is preferably provided with a cam shaped periphery having a cam rise at the point 18;". A roller 18?? carried on a lever 18g is urged into contact with the periphery of the disc 18e by means of a spring 187' having one end attached to the lever and the other end to any convenient portion of the machine. A second roller 18% carried at one end of the lever 18g is thus caused to engage and disengage with the slots in the plate 180, thus locking the plate against rotation when it is not being positively driven by the roller 18d: It will be observed that the cam rise 18; is so positioned with relation to the roller 18d that one of these rollers is withdrawn from the slotted plate 180 as the'other roller moves into engagement with the plate.

When the package reaches the upper position it is removed from the compartment by a pusher 20 carried on a continuous con- 'veyor 21, and durlng this movement the long flap 1s folded smoothly down upon the packwrap a printed label around a box of cigarettes or like package.

It will be appreciated that instead of the web of paper being printed as it is fed through the machine, the same may be preprinted and provided with suitable holes whereby the pre-printed web may be fed into the path of the boxes, or if necessary, cut sheets may be fed from a magazine.

One form of mechanism suitable for feeding cutsheets is illustrated in Figure 10 of the drawings. Inthis figure the sheets 23 are shown asstacked in a magazine 24 and an oscillating suction tube 25 pivoted at 26 serves to pull the forward end of the sheets downwardly, one at a time. The suction tube may be oscillated in any convenient manner, for instance by means of the lever 27 and link 28 from asuitable cam, not shown.

A roiler29 is carried on a lever 3O which is integral with the lever 27", the arrangement being such that as the front edge of the sheet is pulled downwardly onto a continuously rotating roller 31 the roller 29 rocks into contact with the upper surface of the 'blank which is then fed by the roller 31 into engagement with the rollers 32. V v

I A cooperating roller 33 deflects the sheet vertically downwardsthrough guides 34 and the bed slot 35. Asupport roller 36 serves to carry the forward ends of the sheets.

WVhat we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a machine for applying labels to packages, the combination with means for continuously feeding a series of spaced packages in succession through a predetermined path, means for feeding labeling material.

across the path of movement of said packages, whereby each successive package is caused to engage and carry therewith the material to be applied thereto, means for applying adhesive to the material, and mechanism arranged adjacent the path of movement of the packages and associated material for wrapping the material about each package. 1

2. In a machinefor applying labels to packages, the combination with means for continuously feeding a series of spaced packages in succession through a predetermined path, means for feeding labeling material across the path of movement of said packcaused to engage and carry therewith the ma- ;terial .to be applied thereto,nmeans for applying adhesive to the .material,;.-and..sta-

:tionary means arranged adjacent thepath of movement of said packages for engaging the material and wrapping the same about the associated package,

'3. in, a machine for applying labels ,to

packages, the combination with means for continuously feedin a series of spaced packages in succession .t rough a predetermined path, means for feeding labeling material :across the path of movement of said packages, whereby each successive package is .caused to engage and carry therewith the "material to be applied thereto, means for applying-adhesive to the material, and mechanismarranged adjacent the path ofmovement of the packages and associated material for wrapping the material about each package, said fmechanism including means for shiftin each package transversely of the said path 0 movement whereby a portion of said labeling'material associated with each package may be engaged and pressed against the package by the succeeding moving package.

4. In a machine for applying labels to substantially rectangular packages, the combination with meansfor continuously feeding :a series of spaced packages in succession through a predetermined path, means for feeding labeling material across the path of movement of said packages, whereby each successive package iscaused to engage and carry therewith the material to be applied thereto, means for applying adhesive to the material, and means, arranged adjacent the path of movement of said packages for of movement of said packages, whereby each successive package is caused to engage and carry therewith the material to be applied thereto, means for applying adhesive to the material, means arranged adjacent the path of movement of said packages for wrapping said material about each package and pressingthe same against four sides thereof in such manner as to leave a trailing end of the material extending outwardly of the rearward side of the package, and means for shifting each package transversely of the said path of movement to position the package with the trailing end of the material intercepting the said path of movement, whereby the succeeding package may engage and press the said trailing end against the package.

- 6.111 a machine for app ying labels to substantially rectangular packages,the combination withmeans for continuously feeding a series of spaced packages in succession -through a predetermined path, means for feeding labeling material across the path of movement of said packages, whereby each successive package is caused to engage and carrytherewlth the material to beapplied thereto, :means for applying-adhesive to the material, and means arranged adjacentthe path of movement ofsaid packages for wrapping said material about each package and pressing the same against four sides thereof and against theother end of the wrapping material to cause the-material to completely encompass the package. 7

7. Ina machine for applying labels to substantially rectangular packages, the combination with means for continuously feeding a series of spaced. packages in succession through a predetermined path, means for feeding'labeling material across the path of movement of said packages, whereby each successive package is causedto engageand carry therewith the material tobe applied thereto, said material being ofsuch length and so positioned at thetime of engagement of the package therewith that the two ends of the material project outwardly of the leading'side of the package, one to a greater extent, and one to a lesser extent than the length of the sides of thepackage intermediate the leading and rearward sides thereof, means for pressing the material upon the said interly U form with the longer end trailing, and means for folding the trailing end uponthe rearward side of the package. 1

8. In a machine for applying labels to'substantiallyrectangular packages, the combination 'with means for continuously feeding a series of spaced packages 1I1SI1CCGSS1OI1 through a predetermined path, means for feeding labeling material across the path of movement of said packages, whereby each sucessive package is caused to engage and carry therewith the material to be applied thereto said material being of such length and so positioned at the time of engagement ofthe package therewith that the two ends of the material project outwardly of the leading side of the package, one to a greater-Vextent, and one to a lesser extent than the length of the sides of the package intermediatethe leading and rearward side's thereof, means for pressing the material upon the said intermediate sides of the package into substantially U form with the longer end'trailing, and means for folding the trailing end upon the rearward side of the package, said last named means including mechanism for moving each package transversely of the said path of movement, whereby the succeeding package may engage thetrailin'g-endand press the mediate sides of the package into substantialsame against the adjacent intermediate side of the package.

' 9. In a. machine for applying labels to substantially rectangular packages, the combination with means for continuously feeding a series of spaced packages in succession through a predetermined path, means for IE8CllI1"-l&lOllll material across the ath of i t) b movement of said packages, whereby each thereof, means for foldingthe material about the package into substantially U form with both ends thereof tra1l1ng,means for pressing one of sa1d trailing ends against the rearward side of the package, and means including mechanism for shifting each package transversely to fold the remaining trailing end of the material against the rearward side of the package.

10. In a machine for applying labels to substantially rectangular packages, the combination with means for continuously feeding a series ofspaced packages 1n succession through a predetermined path, means for feeding labeling material across the path of movement of said packages, whereby each successive package is caused to engage and carry therewith the material to be applied thereto, said material being of such length and so positioned at the time of engagement of the package therewith that the two ends of the material project outwardly of the leading side of the package to a greater extent gaging atr'a-iling 'end of the material during rotation of the carrier to wrap the material about the package. L

12.'In a machine for applying labels to substantially rectangular packages, the com- 'bination with means for continuously feeding a series of spaced packagesin'succession through aprdeterminedpath, means for feeding labeling material across the path of movement of said packages, wherebyeach hi successive package is caused to engage and carry therewith the material tobe applied thereto, said material being of such length and so positioned at the timeof engagement of the package therewith that the two ends ofthematerial proj ect'outwardly of the'leading side of the package, one: to a greater extent, and one to a lesser extent than the length of the sides of the vpackage intermediate the leading and rearward sidesthereof, means for pressing the material upon thesaid intermediate sides of the package into substantially U form with the longer end trailing,-means for folding the trailing end'upon the rearward side of the package, said last named means including a carriervrotatable about an axis transverse to the sa1d path of movement for receiving the packages and associated material, and stationarymeans engaging the trailing end of the material during rotation of the carrier to wrap the said end about the package.

In' testimony whereof we hereunto aflix our signatures. v e 1 a WALTER EVERETT MOLINS.

JOHN WALKER CHALMERS.

than the length of the sides of the package intermediate the leading and rearward sides thereof, means for folding the material about the package into substantially U form with both ends thereof trailing, means for pressing one of said trailing ends against the rearward side of the package, a stacker extending transversely of the path ofmovement of said packages, and means for thrusting each package into said stacker to fold the remaining trailing end of the, material against the rear- M ward side of the package.

11. In a machine for applying labels to 7 packages the combination with means'for continuously feeding a series ofvspaced packages in successlon through a predetermined path, means for feeding labeling material 1 across the path ofmovement of said packages, whereby jeach successive package .is

caused to engage and carry therewith the material to be applied thereto, a carrier-,rotatassociated material, and stationarymeans en 'able about'an axis transverse to the said path i v of movement for recelvingthe packages and 

